Flushing apparatus.



W. F. KNELL.

FLUSHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20l I9I6.

1 ,2 l 0,330. Patented Deo. 26, 1916.

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WILLIAM FRANKLIN KNELL, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

rnnsnnve APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

App1cation iled October 20, 1916. Serial No. 126,658.

To all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. KNELL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flushing Apparatus; and I hereby declarethat thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. v

This invention is a novel air controlled flushing apparatus for use in lavatories and elsewhere. Its object is to dispense with an open box or tank and with the annoying mechanical kcontrolling devices commonly employed, and to'l provide an efficient iiushing apparatus, simple in construction, not liable to get out of order, and easily installed.

In `the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention and will describe same with reference thereto, but Ido not consider the invention restricted to the particular form or construction of parts shown in the drawings; and have set forth the essential features of the invention in the claims following this description.

The drawing represents a sectional view of one llushing apparatus embodying the invention and illustrating the connections thereof with a water supply and va closet bowl; the parts of the apparatus being shown in normal position, with the outlet valve and vent closed in full lines and the dotted lines indicating the positions assumed by the parts when the vent is opened.

In said drawing, 1 designates a tank or chamber, which may be of any vsuitable construction, and is shown as having an inlet la in its bottom connected toa water supply pipe 2. Said tank also has an outlet 1b in its bottom which may be connected by a pipe 3 to awater closet bowl,y or other object,'to which it isdesired to discharge the water or liquid in the tank. The outlet 1b isclosable by a valve 4 of any suitable construction, which .valve is vshown as attached to a rod 4a that extends preferably vertically through the tank and into an air chamber or cylinder 5 attached to, and preferably extending partly into, the top of the tank, said cylinder being air-tightly connected with the tank or chamber l, by any suitable means and in'any vair from the cylinder, by a spring suitable manner. Within the cylinder 5 is a piston 6 withwhich the upper end of a rod 4a is connected.

rI`he cylinder 5 may be of any suitable construction andv as shown is provided with a lvent or outlet 5 which is closable by a valve 7 mounted on a stem 7a, said valve being normallyvclosed, to prevent escape of Y the example shown the valve 7 may be unseated by pushing rod 7a inward, said rod having a push button or head 7c on its outer 7b. In

end to facilitate unseatingof the valve. In

the inner end of the cylinder is a restricted opening 5b which permits `the passage of air into the cylinder below the piston 5. A suitable by-pass or restricted air passage may be provided between the upper and lower ends of the cylinder to equalize air pressure on opposite sides of the piston; in the example shown this air passage is conveniently provided by a small opening 6a in the piston 6.

With an apparatus constructed and ar ranged as indicated in the drawings; when valves 7 and 4 are closed the water entering from pipe 2 will fill the chamber until the air trapped and compressed therein will prevent further inflow of water, by which time Y the water will have risen to a sufficient height in the tank; the normal water level being indicated as at a in the drawing. The pressure ofthe air in the tank is normally equalized on both sides of the piston 6 in the cylinder 5 by reason of the passages 5b and (Stand the piston 6 normally standing about intermediate the ends of the cylinder 5 when valve 4 is closed. If now vent 5a be opened by unseating valve 7, the compressed air above the piston Gewill, because of the larger area of the vent passage 5?, escape more quickly than air can escape through the restrictedA passage GEL and as a consequence the compressedcair, acting against the yunderside of the piston 6 will lift the piston and through rod 4fL unseat the' outlet valve 4, whereupon the water will rapidly escape from the tank through the large outlet 1D to pipe 3. When the air pressure is equalized on the piston and the tank about emptied, the piston and valve 4 will drop by gravity, and valve 4 will close the outlet 1b, and valve 7 being already closed the tank will refill until the air trapped in the upper part of the cylinder again stops the inflow of water.

Then it is again desired to empty the tank the vent 5a is again opened and the tank again emptied as above described.

The drawing shows one useful embodiment of the invention and mode of installing same; but if desired. the tank could be concealed and nothing but the push button 7c show on the outside of the wall. Pipe may be used i'or, or instead of, the tank; all that is essential is an open space below the air chamber or cylinder wherein air can be compressed by the rise of water in the tank.

Operation: lV hen the water is turned on in pipe'2 the tank is gradually filled forcing the air trapped therein to the top, the restricted openings in the cylinder and piston permit air to pass so the air pressure above and below the piston and in the tank are equal; when the air pressure in the tank is equal to that in the watermain the apparatus is ready for service. Then by pressing the button 7 the aii' is released quickly from above the piston and the pressure below the piston forces the piston up which also lifts the outlet valve from its seat and allows the water in the tank to rush out and flush the bowl thoroughly and quickly. Then as soon as the water body has escaped from the tank and the air pressure becomes equalized, the piston and valve drop closing the outlet, but as the inlet remains open the tank is quickly filled and again ready for use.

What I claim is:

l. Flushing apparatus comprising a chamber having a fluid inlet and outlet, a closure for the outlet, a member adapted to be actuated by the air confined in the chamber, a passage for equalizing pressure on the opposite sides of the member, operative connections between the member and the said closure, a vent opening at the outer side 0f the member, means controlling the vent openv ing, the parts being so arranged that when the vent is opened the compressed air trapped inthe chamber causes the member to open the outlet.

2. In flushing apparatus, the combination of a chamber having a Huid inlet and outlet, a closure for the outlet, a piston adapted to be actuated by air pressure inthe chamber, a'restricted air passage for equalizing pressure on opposite sidesv of the piston, operative connections between the piston and-the outlet closure, a vent opening at the outer side of the piston and means controlling the vent opening, the parts being so arranged that when the vent is opened the compressed air trapped in the chamber causes the piston to open the outlet.

3. In a flushing apparatus the combination of a chamber having a water inlet and outlet, a valve for closing the outlet, a inember in the upper end of the chamber adapted to be actuated by air pressure, connections between the member and the outletvalve, a

vent at the side of the member opposite the outlet valve, means controlling the vent, a restricted air passage for equalizing pressure 'on opposite sides of the member; the partsbeing so constructed and arranged that when the vent is opened the compressed air trappedin the chamber moves the member and causes it to open the outlet valve, substantiallyas described.

4. `Flushing apparatus comprising a chamber having a water inlet and an outlet, a closure for the outlet, a cylinder having a restricted opening communicating with the chamber, and a larger vent; means controlling the vent, a piston in said cylinder intermediate said openings, a passage for equalizing the air pressure in the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston, and connections between the piston and the outlet closure, whereby when the vent is opened'the piston will be moved by the pressure of air so asv to open the outlet.

5. In afiushing apparatus the combination of a chamber having a water inlet and Outlet, avalvel for' closing the outlet, apiston in the upper end of the chamber adapted-to be actuated by air pressure, and connections Y between the piston and the outlet valve, a vent opening at the side of the piston opposite the outlet valve, a valve controlling the vent opening, a restricted air passage equalizing the air pressure on opposite sides of the piston; the parts being so constructed and arranged that when the vent is opened the compressed air trapped in the Vchamber moves the piston and causes it to open the Y outlet valve, substantially as described. v

6.. In a flushing apparatus the combination of a chamber having a water inlet and an outlet, a valve for closing'the outlet, a

cylinder connected to the upper part of the chamber and having a small opening com-V municating with the chamber, a larger vent opening, a valve controlling the vent opening, a piston in said cylinder intermediate said openings having a small passage Vfor equalizing the air pressureon the opposite sides of theV piston, and-connections between the piston and the outlet valve; ywhereby when the vent valve is opened the piston will be moved'by pressure of air and open the outlet valve.

7. In' a flushing apparatus the combination of aV tank having an outlet'opening, a

watersupply communicatingV with the lower portion of-said tank, a cylinder-in said tank e having arestricted air passage communicating with the tank yand having a larger vent communicating with the atmosphere, a -piston in said cylinder interposed betweenl the said'passage and vent, said piston having a small air passage to equalize air 'pressure on opposite Vsides vof the piston, means for closing the vent and connections between the piston vand the outlet valve; whereby when its bottom, a Water supply communicating with the lower portion of said tank; a cylinof said tank havingv der in the upper part a small air passage communicating with the tank and having a larger vent opening communicating with the atmosphere, a piston in said cylinder interposed between the said passage and opening and having a small air passage for equalizing the air pressure on opposite sides of the piston, a valve for closing the vent opening, and a rod connecting the piston with the outlet valve; the air being compressed in the tank When the vent valve and outlet valves are closed, and When the vent valve is opened the piston s moved by the compressed air to open the outlet valve.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I ailix my signature.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN KNELL.

Gopies of this patent may he obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

